Muslim-majority Regions Research Articles

Kashmiri People’s Perspective of Leech Therapy in view of Religious and Unani System of Medication

The Unani System of Medication is based on four therapeutic modalities namely, Regimental therapy, Dieto-therapy, Pharmacotherapy and Surgery. One of the most important and world wide practised methods of regimental therapy utilized for local evacuation of morbid humours is Irsale Alaq (Leech or Hirudo therapy). It is a procedure of treatment with the use of medicinal leeches which has been suggested and successfully practised by Greeko-Arab physicians since long in the management of various diseases such as musculoskeletal diseases, gynaecological disorders, chronic skin diseases, thromboembolic diseases, varicose veins, ENT disorders. Kashmir is a Muslim majority region and as per Islamic ruling leech therapy is permissible so any Halal treatment in Shariah perspective is accepted in Kashmir. In present study, we chose 100 respondents at random on their consent and with the help of self-developed questionnaire collected information on the topic understudy. The study revealed that Kashmiri people consider leech therapy a traditional /religious treatment and use leech therapy for treatment of many diseases such as to treat frost bite, Chronic skin ailment, sports/accident injuries, Musculoskeletal pain, Hypertension, Sinusitis, Osteoarthrites, Migraine. Majority of respondents recommend leech therapy for people for treatment of various common ailments in Kashmir as they believe its less costly, effective and traditional method of treatment of diseases like Frostbite, sports injuries, arthritis. Statistically, significant difference was observed between male and female respondents for treating various ailments using leech therapy (P<0.05). Further, statistically non significant difference between male and female respondents in leech therapy satisfaction level was observed (P>0.05). In Kashmir like in many Muslim countries a good number of people prefer leech therapy to cure many ailments because of its medical importance. Finally, group discussion with elders and leech healers revealed that one should consult an expert/Doctor before going for leech therapy and in case there is some side effect after leech therapy.

Integrating Islamic Values and Modern Medical Practices to Enhance Public Health in Muslim Communities

This study aims to explore the integration of Islamic spiritual values with modern medical practices as a holistic approach to improving public health, particularly in Muslim-majority regions. The approach seeks to bridge the gap between physical and spiritual health through a framework that accommodates religious, cultural, and socio-economic aspects. The method employed is qualitative literature review, utilizing content analysis and interpretative analysis of relevant scholarly sources. The main findings reveal that Islamic values can play a strategic role in creating more inclusive and effective healthcare services, through community-based policies and synergy between traditional and modern medicine. The study also identifies barriers such as inadequate regulations, limited access, and misconceptions about traditional and modern medicine, which can be addressed through stricter regulations and public education. This research contributes to developing a new paradigm in health policy by integrating religion and science, offering a multidisciplinary and contextual perspective. It highlights the importance of collaboration among governments, medical practitioners, and local communities in creating a holistic healthcare system. In conclusion, the integration of Islamic spiritual values with modern medical practices holds significant potential for enhancing public health outcomes while fostering harmonious dialogue between religion and science for the future.

World War I and World War II: Their Effects on the Islamic World and Afghanistan

The tremendous effects that World War I and World War II had on the Islamic world are investigated in this research, with a particular focus on Afghanistan. The aftermath of World War I resulted in the breakup of empires, most notably the Ottoman Empire, as well as the restructuring of political boundaries. The study aims to explore and analyze the far-reaching impacts of World War I and World War II on the Islamic world, with a particular focus on Afghanistan. The study seeks to examine how these global conflicts reshaped political, social, and economic dynamics in Muslim-majority regions, leading to the disintegration of empires, the rise of nationalism, and the realignment of power structures. The significance of this study lies in the fact that it shades light on a relatively unexplored facet of world history, namely the manner in which the Islamic world, and Afghanistan in particular, was impacted by the two World Wars. Specifically, it sheds light on the growth of nationalism, decolonization, and geopolitical competition, all of which played a role in shaping the position of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Middle East within the global system. This work employs the doctrinal research methodology along with descriptive, explanatory, and analytical research approaches. It is worth mentioning that this research study is entirely based on library sources. Most of the sources are reputable and trustworthy textbooks, scholarly published and unpublished journal articles, law reports, and online websites related to the research area. One of the main findings is Both World Wars accelerated the disintegration of Islamic empires, notably the Ottoman Empire, and paved the way for European colonial powers to carve out new territories in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Afghanistan’s strategic position made it vulnerable to foreign influence, particularly from Britain and Russia. After World War I, Afghanistan gained greater autonomy, but it became a battleground for influence between the Soviet Union and the West following World War II, especially during the Cold War. It is recommended that further research and documents are needed the Islamic world’s experience during both World Wars, which has often been overlooked in global history. Incorporating these perspectives into academic curricula could help reshape understanding of global conflicts from a non-Western perspective.

Improving organizational agility through ethical leadership, employee job satisfaction and Islamic OCB

In the contemporary business realm, characterized by dynamic shifts and technological progress, agility has emerged as a vital concept to enable businesses to navigate and thrive amidst uncertainty and intensified competition. Key to fostering Agility is garnering comprehensive support from all stakeholders, notably organizational leaders and employees. This research aims to explore several factors contributing to Organizational Agility, including Ethical Leadership, Islamic OCB, and Employee Job Satisfaction. Adopting a quantitative methodology, the research focuses on employees and managers in the café and restaurant businesses in Yogyakarta, renowned for its dynamic nature and competitive environment. With a total sample of 179 managers and employees, participants were selected through purposive sampling criteria, targeting establishments operational for at least one year, employing a minimum of ten staff, and respondents with tenure exceeding six months in supervisory, managerial, or ownership capacities. Primary data collection utilized questionnaires, and structural equation modeling via AMOS software facilitated analysis. Results reveal a positive correlation between Ethical Leadership and Employee Job Satisfaction, Islamic OCB, and Organizational Agility. Additionally, Employee Job Satisfaction and Islamic OCB were found to impact Organizational Agility positively. Thus, integrating Islamic OCB into business practices offers a promising avenue for enhancing Agility, particularly in Muslim-majority regions.

Prophetic Medicine in the Context of Middle Eastern Culture: A Concept Analysis.

Background: Prophetic Medicine, integral to healthcare in Muslim-majority regions, particularly the Middle East and North Africa, is often underexplored in existing literature. Purpose: This concept analysis sought to explore the concept of Prophetic Medicine by delineating its attributes, antecedents, and consequences in order to augment healthcare providers' comprehension of Prophetic Medicine. It also seeks to enhance interdisciplinary dialogue, thereby enriching the integration of traditional healing modalities in modern medical practices. Methods: Walker and Avant's method was used to conduct the concept analysis by reviewing published literature on the concept. Results: The analysis identified the core attributes of Prophetic Medicine, such as Black Seeds, Dates, Miswak, Wet cupping, and Zamzam water, and explored cultural, spiritual, and practical underpinnings of these practices. Antecedents such as cultural background, spiritual beliefs, basic knowledge, lower cost, perceived safety, efficacy, simple techniques, and dissatisfaction with allopathic therapy were identified. The consequences of these practices include the multifaceted impact of Prophetic Medicine, highlighting the relationship between these traditional practices and health outcomes. Implications for Practice: This concept analysis underscores the significance of recognizing these aspects of Prophetic Medicine for healthcare providers to effectively integrate Prophetic Medicine into practice, aiming for favorable patient outcomes and fostering a more inclusive, culturally sensitive healthcare environment.

A Kashmiri Woman Stuck in Crossfire: Exploring the Impact of Militarisation on Everyday Lives in Farah Bashir’s Rumours of Spring

Political conflict has plagued Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region of Hindu-majority India, ever since the partition. The crisis worsened by the end of the 1980s and has continued to disrupt peace in the valley to date. The conflict arguably entered a new phase as the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected to power in 2014, which also joined the ruling coalition of the Jammu and Kashmir state in 2015 for the first time. Over this period, Kashmir’s resistance evolved into subtler forms, including cultural expressions like memoirs. Published in 2021, Farah Bashir’s debut work, Rumours of Spring, is a deeply personal yet undeniably political exploration of the crisis in Kashmir from its aggravated phase in the beginning of the 1990s. This paper argues that the nuanced depiction of the crisis in the memoir demands an intersectional reading of the traumatising impact of militarisation and militarism on Kashmir’s everyday life, especially given the subject position of the narrator as a Muslim woman. The works on militarisation by Jacklyn Cock, as employed by Samreen Mushtaq to analyse the situation in Kashmir, provide theoretical insights for this reading. Set in Kashmir’s identitarian conflict, the Muslim identity is central to the narrative. We argue that in Bashir’s memoir, religion finds a complex representation, with the Qur’an and Kashmiri folklore serving as respites in times of crisis, even as the fundamentalist factions contribute to their oppressive reality. Bashir’s work openly engages with the experience of being a Muslim in Hindu India. The paper also attempts to place the work in a larger corpus of life-writing by women in conflict zones, comparing the work with Sharon and My Mother-in-Law: Ramallah Diaries (2003), a Palestinian memoir by Suad Amiry.

The Evolving Media Ecosystem and Religious Patterns in Anantnag, Kashmir

Abstract This paper explores how followers of Islamic traditions in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, articulate their religious experiences within the context of various communication mediums. The primary aim is to examine how Islamic traditions in Anantnag uphold their relationship with diverse media symbols and formats, while exploring how individuals in this Muslim-majority region derive religious significance from their engagement with various media platforms. The paper aims to illuminate the processes associated with communicating Islamic traditions within the evolving context of media history in Anantnag. By employing in-depth interviews and a thorough review of existing literature, this paper argues that each media form holds a distinctive influence in shaping religious practices and discourses within the context of Anantnag. To understand how Muslims construct meaning through engagement with media of religious significance, this paper delves into narratives of self-identity, considering them as essential resources for illustrating the intersection of religious patterns and media landscapes in Anantnag.

Islamic Microfinance Impact: Comparative Effectiveness Study

Despite the rising adoption of Islamic microfinance, there remains a crucial gap in the comparative analysis of how Islamic microfinance impacts the economic status of low-income families against conventional methods. This study investigates the factors influencing the effectiveness of Islamic microfinance in improving the economic status of low-income families in Muslim-majority regions compared to conventional microfinance methods. The research methodology encompasses a comprehensive literature review, utilizing sources from peer-reviewed academic journals, international financial organization reports, and books focused on microfinance and Islamic banking. The study involved thematic analysis to identify and critically evaluate key themes such as economic empowerment, comparison with conventional microfinance, regulatory dynamics, customer perceptions, and sustainability goals. The findings indicate that Islamic microfinance provides distinctive benefits due to its adherence to Sharia principles, which resonate well with the target communities’ cultural and religious norms. However, the effectiveness varies significantly across different regions due to diverse economic contexts and regulatory environments. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a detailed comparative analysis of Islamic versus conventional microfinance, highlighting specific areas where Islamic microfinance excels or requires further improvement.

The competitiveness, challenges and opportunities to accommodate the Halal tourism market: a Sharia-law tourism destination perspectives

PurposeThis study aims to explore the perception among the tourism stakeholders about Halal tourism competitiveness, challenges and opportunities in Aceh, a Sharia-law tourism destination.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted the qualitative research method and used in-depth interviews with purposively selected 13 Halal tourism stakeholders in Aceh.FindingsThis study found that the Indonesian Government has aggressively promoted Aceh as one of its main Halal tourist destinations. Despite its popularity in the growing and lucrative Muslim market, the understanding of Halal tourism in Aceh among its stakeholders is still at its infancy level. Besides, although Aceh is a Muslim-majority region, its Halal facilities and services, especially the Halal certification for their foodservice industry, are still lacking compared to their neighbouring competitors.Originality/valueThis study confirms the scarcity of stakeholder understanding and support challenged and undermined Aceh’s Halal tourism competitiveness. As such, this study sheds light on the original insight that stakeholders’ limited comprehension and backing can hinder Aceh’s Halal tourism competitiveness.

Quality of life and its predictors among people living with HIV in Muslim majority region: A cross-sectional study in Aceh.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain significant global health challenges addressed by countries worldwide. The advent of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality of people living with HIV (PLHIV), transforming HIV/AIDS from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic disease. However, the increasing number of elderly individuals with HIV who experience early frailty syndrome presents new challenges and potential for diminished quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and to identify its significant predictors in PLHIV patients who have received ARV therapy in Banda Aceh, a Muslim-majority region in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on all PLHIV who received ARV therapy at the voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) polyclinic at Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia between January and February 2023. The WHOQOL-HIV BREF instrument, a multi-dimensional tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), was used to assess the quality of life of the PLHIV, and potential predictors were assessed. The Chi-squared test was used to determine the predictors associated with the quality of patient's lives. Our data indicated that the majority of PLHIV were male (88%), 26-35 years old (78%), employed (92%), and unmarried (54%). Poor quality of life was dominant for the physical health (100%) and social relationships (76%) domains. In contrast, good quality of life was observed in aspects of independence, psychology, and spirituality, all reporting 100% results. Significant associations were found between married status (p=0.004) and medication adherence (p<0.001) with higher quality of life among PLHIV. In conclusion, married PLHIVs that received support from their partners regarding adherence to therapy exhibited a better quality of life. These results underscore the significance of sustained support systems and adherence strategies to enhance PLHIV's quality of life.

Adoption of Islamic trade financing facilities among SMEs in North-West Nigeria: A preliminary investigation

The existence, growth and development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) depend on trade and commercial activities. Trading activities, especially cross-border trade, have been acknowledged as an important instrument for sustainable economic growth, development, poverty alleviation, inclusiveness and global stability. However, for the smooth flow of trade and commercial activities, SMEs need a specialized form of financing (i.e., trade finance). North-West Nigeria being a Muslim-majority region, Islamic trade finance should be a better alternative than conventional trade finance. Thus, this preliminary study aims to examine the significant factors influencing the adoption of Islamic trade financing products among SMEs owner-managers in North-West Nigeria. Besides, the study investigates the moderating effects of age, gender and education on the adoption of Islamic trade financing products among SMEs owner-managers. To achieve this aim, a quantitative survey of 36 randomly selected SMEs was undertaken of which 35 were valid for analysis. A hierarchal multiple regression approach was employed to analyse the data. The results of hypotheses testing revealed that religious obligation and awareness have a direct and significant influence on the adoption of Islamic trade financing products. On the contrary, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, perceived risk, social influence, and government support were found to be insignificant. Also, age, gender, and education were found to be insignificant moderators in this study. The results of this preliminary study indicate the need for massive awareness and the importance of promoting the “Islamicity” of Islamic trade financing facilities by Islamic banks in North-West Nigeria.

Iran’s Strategic Approach towards the Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

The Middle East, a Muslim majority region in the Asian continent, has remained a centre for territorial and extraterritorial powers to secure their strategic interests significantly to access oil reserves in the region. Israel and the United States are two examples respectively. In the wake of securing strategic interests, these states tried to interfere the polity of the Muslim states that infuriated most of the Muslim leaders to such an extent that they had to go for aggressive measures to negate the influence of these interest-seekers. Iran has been leading the Muslim states in the region and has strived hard for integrating Muslim leadership. During this process of regional integration, a special focus has been paid to deal Israel-an important strategic ally of the US in the region and permanent threat for the neighbouring Muslim states. The current circumstances, causes and effects are the product of Arab-Israel wars and most of these have been cashed in by Iran for the security of its interests in the region. Iran has facilitated the Muslim states, particularly Lebanon, to counter the Israeli strategies. It has erected Hezbollah-the party of God- in Lebanon whose effective presence has always restricted Israel from advancing to the region. Since its inception in 1985, Iranian backed Hezbollah has opposed the Israeli motives in the Middle East. Ideological similarities between Iran and Hezbollah have never allowed Israel to manipulate the region. Hezbollah has been in a war-like situation with Israel and has fought a couple of wars which have not only guaranteed a guard for Hezbollah’s campaign against Israel but also have paved the way for Iran to maintain hegemony in the region. This research has been conducted with a primary objective to analyse the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and the strategic approach of Iran towards the particular conflict.

Paradox of Protective Behaviors Among Muslim Men During the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Aceh, Indonesia.

The imposition of protective health protocols in public spaces to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has confronted the ritual of congregational prayers in mosques for Muslims. This study examines the adoption of protective behaviors in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak and the influence of religion on risk perception by comparing precautionary behaviors in public and in mosques. Data were collected through an online survey of 327 Muslim men across the Aceh Province, Indonesia, from April 21, 2020, to May 2, 2020. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the paired t-test were employed to compare the uptake of protective behaviors in public and mosques. The adoption of protective behaviors was higher in public rather than in mosques. It further revealed that the understanding of Islamic teachings during the pandemic has influenced perceived risk and the way Muslim men comply with the protective guidelines. Those who have complete, incomplete, or no compliance of precautionary behaviors have their own interpretation of Islamic teachings that inform their individual actions to manage the risk. This study suggests the significance of religious views for developing public health preparedness during the current and future pandemics in Aceh and other Muslim majority regions.

Sport in Central Asia under Gorbachev: Uzbekistan from 1985 to 1991

This paper assesses the modern and traditional sports during the last six years of the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991. The case study is the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan under the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU, established 1917). Central Asia is a crucial historical case because it was a Muslim-majority region that Moscow wished to transform. The study is interdisciplinary and contains primary and secondary sources from the Cold War era. The research question asks: What did the implementation and impact of Soviet sport look like in Uzbekistan under Mikhail Gorbachev (CPSU leader from March 1985 to December 1991). Uzbekistan’s sportspeople, facilities, Spartakiad ranking of 1983, Olympic athletes, and traditional sports are the topics examined.

Solid organ transplantation medicine in Arab countries: A Narrative Review Focused on Ethical Aspects

Introduction: Ethical issues have been at the center of transplantation medicine for the past 60 years. Arab countries are not without ethical concerns with living donations as the dominant type of organ source. There is no comprehensive review of the ethical consideration evolvement. This narrative review aims to examine the English medical literature over the past 25 years. Materials and Methods: This is a narrative review of the international literature from two online databases (PubMed and Scopus). The combined search term “Ethics and Transplantation” was coupled with the individual names of the countries of the Arab countries. Relevant literature was narrated in a concise thematic account. Results: The themes that emerged from the review process included global concern on transplantation ethics that touched on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Some reports on transplantation practice status in the MENA region address clinical practice, organization, and ethical considerations. Organ-specific reports focused on renal and liver transplantation. Several other researchers addressed the knowledge and attitudes of health-care professionals of transplantation and posttransplantation care. The ethics of transplantation medicine has focused on the donation and financially motivated provision of organs (mainly kidneys). A few authors have underscored the implications of the Istanbul declaration on the prevention of trafficking of human organs to the practice of transplant medicine. Being a Muslim-majority region, several authors addressed the ethical and medicolegal aspects of transplantation from an Islamic perspective. Conclusions: Ethical issues in transplantation are evolving in Arab countries. They are mostly related to religious and cultural backgrounds. A broader dialog between the medical community, Islamic scholars, and legislators must continue to align concepts such as brain death and donor compensation. Furthermore, a concerted effort is required to inform the public and further the transplant agenda.

Confronting the Indian State: Islamism, secularism, and the Kashmiri Muslim question

AbstractThis paper investigates the framework of Islamist politics of Jama'at e Islami in Indian-administered Kashmir. Even though Jama'at e Islami creates the notion of “other” in the Indian state and challenges it but Kashmir's provincial relationship with India also forces it to work within the limits set up by the same state. This paper, thus, conceptualizes the relationship between Indian state and Islamists in a Muslim Majority region that demands the right to self-determination. In doing so, the paper interrogates Jama'at e Islami's rhetorical opposition to the political doctrine of Indian secularism and raises queries about minority rights and their place in the Islamist project.

Siege, Resistance, and Politics in 'New Kashmir'

In August 2019, the populist Modi government, after getting re-elected in a massive landslide, rescinded the semi-autonomous status (constitutionally guaranteed under Article 370) of the disputed Muslim-majority region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) by putting its 12 million residents under an unprecedented lockdown. This article will examine the ramifications of this decision, which earned praise in mainland India but generated anger and fear among the people of J&amp;K, especially in the Kashmir Valley, the epicenter of the Kashmiri self-determination movement? It situates the prior measures Indian government took to impose its decision on the population which strongly opposed it and assesses the human cost of this imposition. It looks at the international community’s response to the political and human rights crisis obtained due to the siege imposed on the people of the contested Himalayan region. And, finally, the article indicates that the political future of Kashmir, which has been the main source of intense geopolitical rivalry between two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors (India and Pakistan), and a site of protracted armed conflict and unarmed anti-India resistance, is likely to remain caught in a cycle.

“A New West in Mindanao”: Settler Fantasies on the U.S. Imperial Fringe

AbstractThis essay analyzes white settler formations in the Southern Philippines during the early decades of the twentieth century. Occupied by the United States in the wake of the Spanish-American War, the Muslim-majority regions of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago became sites of colonial experimentation and reconfiguration. This led to a brief-but-concerted push by Euro-American fortune seekers to settle the “Muslim South.” Supported by U.S. policy makers and colonial officials, white colonists were drawn to Mindanao-Sulu by visions of permanent settlement and limitless economic opportunity. This analysis contends that settler attempts to build a “white man's country” in the Southern Philippines were shaped by vernaculars and modes of conquest developed on the continental frontier. It interrogates the creation of transoceanic frontier spaces in Mindanao-Sulu and the practical attempts to exploit them, which drew inspiration from diverse sources in the American West and across the colonized globe. In its study of settler fortunes and failures, the essay blurs distinctions between national and imperial peripheries, and contributes to a growing scholarly interest in reassessing the importance of U.S. extraterritorial possessions in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Imagining an Islamic Japan: pan-Asianism’s encounter with Muslim mission

Under the influence of a globalized discourse about Japan’s uncertain religious future, many Muslims in the early twentieth century placed Meiji Japan in a religious imaginary, in which Japan became the arena for a competition between different religious aspirations. This religious imaginary is an example of the effect of mediated connections, in which information from Japan to Muslim majority regions and vice versa was generally transmitted through Euro-American channels. As a result, Muslims envisioned strategies to convert the Japanese to Islam, aiming to demonstrate the universal relevance of their religion. While this led to a number of missionary endeavours, which quickly ended in failure, it was in the realm of the imperial imaginary that Islam as a geopolitical tool became attractive to pan-Asianist circles in Japan. In collaboration with select Muslim partners and by giving visibility to the existence of Islam in Japan, Japanese pan-Asianists of the late Meiji period tried to inspire loyalties in Muslim regions for the benefit of Japan’s imperial goals. Although this partnership would not last long, it prepared the ground for Japan’s Islam policy in the 1930s and 1940s, which characteristically blended pan-Asianism with religion and the showcasing of Muslim life in Japan.

Exploring the Islamic Juridical Field in the Russian Empire: An Introduction

When studying Muslim-majority regions of the Russian empire, one sees substantial variations in the relations between the imperial state and Islam. These variations may be less reflective of changes in imperial policies designed to administer Islam than a function of the material we choose to study relations between the empire and its Muslim communities and, especially, of the assumptions that we bring to the study of such relations. Over the last decade, the historiography relating to Muslim communities living under Russian rule has shifted between two major interpretations. In this introduction I show that attention to Islamic juristic literature allows us to understand that such interpretations are not without problems and helps us to complicate the dominant narratives about Muslim culture in the Russian Empire.